Hariri Gives Up

Well, back to the drawing board. Seventy-three days after the Lebanese elections, Sa‘d Hariri has given up trying to form a government.Earlier he had said he would take "decisive steps" if the opposition continued to reject his government proposal.

Since Hariri and his March 14 alliance control the most votes in Parliament, he will almost certainly be named as Prime Minister designate again. So what's the point of withdrawing now? He was previously committed to a national unity government, but after 10 weeks still couldn't produce one. This time he can insist that while he may be open to national unity, he will govern with a simple majority if necessary. That would allow him, and not the opposition, to call the shots. At any rate, that seems the likeliest scenario, but this is Lebanon, and unexpected twists and turns could occur.

UPDATED: Qifa Nabki gives his usual perceptive analysis.